Macra na Feirme has launched their campaign to promote local farmers and encourage consumers to make community focused-purchases this Christmas, and beyond.
Macra are working with the National Dairy Council to highlight the NDC Guarantee that assures consumers that the milk and cream they are purchasing has been both farmed and processed locally.
Macra National President, Alan Jagoe, speaking about the campaign said, “We are urging consumers to support local producers by choosing locally produced food and dairy products with the NDC Guarantee. As these young farmers will tell you, this simple action supports thousands of jobs and keeps money in your community. Christmas is a time when a lot of food is purchased and we’re asking consumers to make this an Irish Christmas and make a conscious effort to support their community.”
Macra has carried out an online survey of consumers’ attitudes to the NDC Guarantee and the impact it has on dairy farmers. An overwhelming 94 per cent of those surveyed felt that the NDC Guarantee was ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to them, as consumers.
Of them, 81 per cent felt that it was important to them because they wanted to “choose Irish produce”, followed closely in importance by “supporting local jobs”, “supporting their local community”, and “quality”.
Dairy farmers surveyed said that consumers choosing milk with the NDC Guarantee meant that “they were able to reinvest in their business and support local employment”, it “supports their local cooperative”, and “recognises their commitment to quality milk production”.
